Improvement in pocket-knives



H. E. LINTON, Pocket-Knife.

N6. 218,989. Patented Aug. 26,1819.

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ufafl UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

HARRY E. LIN TON,OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, EDWIN LINTON, HENRY A. WISE, AND DANIEL J. SLANKER, OF SAME PLACE.

lMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-KNIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,989, dated August 26, 1879; application filed April 1, 1879.

declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in those pocketknives which are constructed with a continuous metallic strip between the side pieces of the handle, that serves both as a back for the handle and as a spring to hold the blade.

Heretofore it has been customary to secure this spring-piece in place by means of two or more rivets passing through the handle and the spring, and holding the latter permanently in position.

The spring ismade by stamping or swaging it out of a sheet or bar of metal, and afterward forming in it the holes necessary to receive the rivets.

This method of constructing and attaching the spring requires several distinct operations, each of which increases the cost of the spring.

The purpose of my invention is to obviate the necessity of more than one operation in manufacturing the spring; and it consists in employing, instead of the rivet-holes, recesses or slots adapted to engage the rivets, and of such shape as to permit the completing of the spring atone operation by stamping or swaging.

Figure lillustrates the position of the spring when it is about to be put in place. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a knife having my improved spring attached. Fig. 3 illustrates a knife-spring of the class upon which mine is intended as animprovement.

In the drawings, A represents the blade of a pocket-knife. B is one of the sides of the handle, which may be constructed of any desired material, shape, and size, the other half of the handle not being shown in the drawings.

b b are two rivets permanently secured between the sides of the handle, and adapted to hold the spring in position.

0 represents the spring and back, constructed with a forward thinner portion, 0 and a rear thicker portion, 0

c is a slot cut in the lower side of the spring,

and extending forwardly from the edge. e is a shoulder formed in the lower edge of the spring, near its rear end, which rests against the rivet b. I

The slot 0 engages with the rivet b, and on account of its inclined position it prevents the spring from slipping either upward or forward.

The blade A is pivoted beneath the front end of the spring at a.

The parts of the knife are put together as follows The sides B are secured together by means of the rivets I272. The spring 0 is then inserted and pushed backward until the rivet 12 engages with the slot 0, after which it is turned around until the shoulder 0 rests upon the rivet b. When this has been done the back of the handle is closed tightly from end to end, as shown in Fig. 2. The blade is then attached by means of the pivot a, and the knife is completed. Should it be necessary to remove the spring for any reason, it can be readily done without the necessity of with drawing the rivets or taking apart the handle.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a spring of the class upon which mine is intended as an improvement. This spring is punched from a sheet or strip of metal, after which it is gaged, and is then provided with the rivet-holes e c. It is then permanently riveted to the handle.

The spring thus goes through several operations before being completed, and, as is well known, many springs are spoiled in centering and drilling. I

The advantages of a spring constructed according to my invention will be readily understood.

I am aware that springs have been used which could be held in placewithout the in 2 erases serting of rivets, by arranging them to bear In testimony that I claim the foregoingas at one or more points against a back piece my own I affix my signature in presence of which is inserted between the sides of the two witnesses.

handle, and I do not claim such constructions.

What I claim is HARRY E. LINTON. A pocket-knife handle consisting of the part 0, provided on its inner edge with the Witnesses:

angular slot 0, and a shoulder at-the rear end, W. J. POYSER,

in combination with the handle 13 and the J. WHITING, Jr.

rivets b b, as and for the purposes set forth. 1 

